This Week in Boracay and Iloilo (October 24 to 30, 2020)

Residents of Iloilo province who work and visit Iloilo City are required by the government to observe reverse isolation when returning home. This was stressed by Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. after he cited the latest data from the Provincial Health Office which showed that 65 percent of COVID-19 cases were tracked from residents who came back from Iloilo City. In one instance, 13 persons got infected after attending a fiesta in Iloilo City which was also attended by a COVID-19-positive person.

The governor said that imposing inter-zonal restrictions is not ideal since the city and neighboring provinces are economically dependent on each other. Gov. Defensor noted that the best strategy to avoid local transmission is a stricter reverse isolation policy. This includes practicing the “3M strategy”: Mag Maskara, Mag Distancia, kag Manghinaw (wear masks, practice social distancing, and wash hands). He also encouraged families to separate utensils and other personal belongings as part of the strategy. The people who should observe this protocol are those who have exposure in hospitals, health facilities, or workplaces in Iloilo City, he added [1].

In the month of October, 36 of the 180 barangays in Iloilo have recorded zero cases of COVID-19, according to the data collected by the City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU) of the City Health Office. As of October 22, these are the villages in Iloilo City that are COVID-19-free [2]:

• Arroyo

• Flores

• General Hughes

• Gloria

• Hipodromo

• Inday

• Jalandoni Wilson

• Kahirupan

• Kauswagan

• Legaspi Dela Rama

• Liberation

• Ma. Clara

• Malipayon-Delgado

• Osmeña

• Rizal Estanzuela

• Roxas Village

• San Agustin

• San Felix

• San Jose

• Tanza Baybay

• Tanza Bonifacio

• Bantud

• Hinactacan

• Laguda

• Magdalo

• Rizal Lapuz Sur

• Calubihan

• El 98

• San Jose

• Seminario

• Hibao-an Norte

• NHA 2

• North Avanceña

• Tap-oc

• San Pedro

• West Habog-habog

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas is imposing more relaxed travel restrictions to and from the city by lifting passenger capacity and limitations in air travel. Those who wish to enter Iloilo City will be allowed regardless of purpose, but they will still have to comply with the government’s requirements for air travel. Here is the rundown of air travel protocols by the government for airline companies and passengers [3]:

• Passengers bound to Iloilo City must secure a travel authority pass and a notice of coordination and acceptance from the Iloilo City Emergency Operations Center (IC-EOC).

• Airline companies who service commercial flights shall properly communicate with the IC-EOC regarding the date and time of the flight.

• Airline companies must also submit a list of passengers for every trip.

Go to Yoorekka for more COVID-19 updates in Boracay and Iloilo.